Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Friday urged the Centre to hike the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy to Rs 2930 per quintal, thereby helping farmers in the state to earn more profit from their produce.
“The hike in MSP is necessary as Odisha farmers are always bearing the brunt of natural calamities. The present Central assistance is not adequate for them and so the MSP of paddy should be increased to Rs 2930 per quintal,” Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo told the media here.
“The hike will help farmers to earn 25% profit from their produce,” the minister added.
Sahoo informed that Odisha is the fourth largest rice manufacturing state in the country. The Centre should therefore take steps to benefit the farmers in the state, he said.
He informed that Odisha is considered a deficit state and the Centre must consider its case on a priority basis. He has also written to the Union Agriculture Minister in this regard.
